More’s possible for Australia with AI

It’s been remarkable to see the progress and growing impact of AI here in Australia over the past year. What was once a promise, is now a powerful reality, delivering tangible benefits for daily life, Australian businesses, and communities.

At Google Australia, we’ve been privileged to contribute to this momentum and to witness firsthand how Australians are embracing AI to achieve significant outcomes. This isn't just about new technology; it's about new possibilities opening up for everyone. It’s exciting to see, and even more compelling to know that so much more is possible.

It’s clear AI is helping Australians do more:

AI for You

This year, generative AI has truly been embraced by the Australian community :

• 49% of Aussies report using generative AI, up from 38% in 2023.
• It’s become an essential tool in workplaces, with 74% of Australians who use AI reporting it helps them get more done at work and supports brainstorming and problem-solving.
• This increased use of the tech has led to more optimism - with 52% of Australians believing AI will benefit them (up from 46% last year).

Innovation is surging across the AI ecosystem, from local companies like Leonardo.AI to transformative global models like our own Gemini 2.5. Gemini 2.5 now leads independent benchmarks, helping Australians do more than ever with unprecedented capabilities. For instance, with tools like Gemini Live, you now have a personal problem solver in your pocket that can see and hear your world with you, helping you get things done smarter, faster, and easier.

To truly benefit all Australians, widespread AI literacy is essential. Despite increased adoption, only 9% of Australians feel they have a strong grasp of how to use AI tools, according to an upcoming report commissioned by Google on Australia's AI opportunities by Public First. Initiatives designed to bridge this gap are critical, here at Google we are contributing through programs like our AI Essentials course, offering practical AI skills to everyone, no prior experience needed.

AI for Business

During my time at Google, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing many remarkable waves of innovation. The pace and ingenuity with which Australian businesses are currently embracing AI to create new value and compete globally is truly exceptional, and we are still just at the beginning. We’ve seen some incredible examples of Australian ingenuity with AI this year:

• Heidi is using Google Cloud’s AI ecosystem to power its flagship clinical scribe, automatically generating medical notes for over 1.5 million consultations worldwide on a weekly basis, ultimately helping free up doctors to focus on patient care, and less on the paperwork.
• Macquarie Bank is using Google Cloud AI to help address and resolve customer issues more quickly, improving call centre resolution rates by 16%.
• The Iconic is using Gemini on Vertex AI to build new multimodal search experiences like natural language, and image search, giving customers more ways find what they are looking for, quickly and with more accuracy.

We’re proud to support these leading Australian businesses as they innovate and grow, using Google’s breakthroughs in AI models, agents, and purpose-built AI chips. Our AI-powered products and services, from Search to Cloud AI, supported an estimated A$53 billion in economic activity for businesses in 2024 alone. ¹

This highlights AI’s vast potential for Australia’s businesses and economy. Public First’s research estimates AI could add $240 billion in economic value and boost Australia’s productivity by over 10%, driving improvements across healthcare, education, and financial services. ²

For Australian business leaders, the question is really - where does AI sit in your organisation? Is it just a domain for your tech team, is it a standing topic in the boardroom? Are you educating, advocating and demonstrating how AI can help everyone in your organisation to work smarter? What’s your organisation’s AI on AI?

AI for Australia

Google’s $1 billion Digital Future Initiative, with its focus on partnerships and deep research, is central to our investment in AI for Australia. Our local AI research team in Sydney, launched under the DFI in 2021 and now over 30 researchers strong, is turning research into reality, in close partnership with Australian leading organisations. Together with our partners like CSIRO and Cochlear, we are tackling critical issues right here in Australia, including conservation, health, energy solutions, and accessibility.

Here are some of our recently launched projects:

• In collaboration with the University of Western Australia (UWA), we announced a multi-year project to support and improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s interaction with technology; specifically Automated Speech Recognition., fostering better communication and inclusion across communities.
• With the University of Newcastle, we’re exploring the viability of geothermal energy as a clean, sustainable power source. This aims to find stable and reliable energy sources for Australian homes and businesses.
• We’re exploring new possibilities in genomic medicine with the Garvan Institute to pave the way for more personalised and effective healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference in individual health outcomes.

These new projects build on many initiatives we've already launched, all designed to use AI for the benefit of Australians, from reimagining hearing healthcare, to preserving our precious kelp forests to helping protect Australia’s unique biodiversity.

AI’s momentum in Australia is clear, bringing real benefits to people, businesses, and communities nationwide. While this progress is exciting, much more is possible. We need to upskill Australians in AI, help businesses efficiently adopt AI, and continue investing in deep research and partnerships to solve our country's biggest challenges. Google is dedicated to this journey, committed to working collaboratively with all Australians—including partners in industry, government, research, and education—to responsibly explore these new frontiers and bring the benefits to all Australians.